Alexander Assefa

Alexander Assefa was born in 1983 and is an Ethiopian-born American politician. He is notable for being the first Ethiopian-American elected to public office in the United States. Assefa is a licensed pilot and also worked as a political advisor for the Ethiopian Community Center of Las Vegas.

Education

Assefa holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Averett University in Danville.

Political Experience

Assefa was elected to the Nevada State Assembly representing District 42 in Las Vegas as a Democratic member in 2018. He was re-elected in 2020 to his second term. However, Assefa resigned from the legislature on January 11, 2021, citing a mistaken understanding of residency requirements for holding legislative office.

His resignation followed a series of legal difficulties. In May 2020, law enforcement raided his house during an investigation into his campaign finances. On March 17, 2021, Assefa faced fourteen criminal charges filed by the Nevada Attorney General's office, including allegations of false information about his residency and misappropriation of campaign funds. A grand jury later indicted him on charges of campaign fund theft and falsifying documents, with the most serious charges carrying a possible penalty of up to 20 years of imprisonment.

Assefa was replaced in the Assembly by Tracy Brown-May. Beyond his legislative service, he has also worked as a pilot and small business owner.